Battery



ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 is; l

283x FH Nov. 27, 1928.

F. W. HOCHSTTTER ET AL BATTERY Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

1,693,385;r A i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. r

FREDERICK w. Hocnsrmzrnn, 0F PITTSBURGH, AND WILLIAM BROAD, oF mens,

rENNsYLVANIA, Assrenons, BY msNEjAssrGNIENTs, To ySAID FREDERICK W.

HOCHSTETTEB.

firmar.

Y, Application nien January ai, 192s. serial mi sasso. i

extent to effect reither partial or complete immersion of the anode 'and cathode elements iii the electrolyte, for a Variable current supply, oi to `eecta complete separation between said velements and Ithe electrolyte.

This etfect is secured by so constructing and mounting the active elements of the battery within an inclosing electrolyte containing case, together with means for carrying` oil' produced gases or vapors without lea yge in the manner more fully and hereinafter described.

In the drawings showing one preferred enilbodiment of the 'invent-ion;

Fig.l 1 is a view in vertical section rshowing the battery in position for eneration of the ul current supply, with t e elements submerv'ed.

, Fig. 2v is asimilar view, but in reversepposition, showing the Velements outV of Contact with the electrolyte. y

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the elements partially submerged, all offsaid views showing the gas conduit in operative position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partlyl in section of the assembled `series of the active elements of the battery.

- Fig. 5 is a sectional `detail view oi the gas escape conduit and plug.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line YI-#VI of Fig. l. Y

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a lu'ral'rty of battery units mounted in a. rotatab e casing.

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view, like Fig. 6, showing a modified construction.

Referring to the drawing 2 is the main casing of' 4carboni or suitable carbonaceous material or its equivalent constituting onev of member i2 by screw thread connections 4. Together, members 2 and 3 provide a closed hollow chamber having the cavity A, the

main body and cavity bein preferably cylin- Ydrical in cross section.

ap 3 is provided with a series of concentric annular rings 5, constituting anode members, between willich extend from theirinnerends 'the intervening cathode members 6, and arrangement.

Members 6 are preferably made of a series of zinc rings or zincsleeves, or which may be of 'any equivalentsuitable' conducting metal, element or material, rigidly connected at one end by the zinc cross bar Tas in Fig. 4. All of said menibersare connected i-n series by said bar', which is connected 'or supported at 8 'with a stem 9 which extends centrally through the central lcarboi'i plug l() which is screwed er otherwise fitted iiito the cap 3 as at 11. f

Conductor stem 9 is provided with 'atermina'l binding ppost l2 constituting thene'gative pole of the battery. Gap 3 1s provided with a similarfbind'ingpost L3 constituting the' posi/tiveV pole' connected with the main carbon body Y f As shown, the sever-al 'carbon rings are comparatively thin with siricient intei'ven` ingspace lor the zine rings 6, their terminals and cross bar 7 being-spaced away from 'the carbon'Y walls so 'as to. provide ample intervcning eircnlatin'and electrol fluid a. i v

'As t us constructed, it will be Seen that when the battery is inverted as vi'n Fig. l, aH of the'active members will be submerged With production of ari-'ull current and maximum voltage. Vfixen tilted or inverted in' the opposite direction as in Fig. 2, all ofthe active members will be elevated out ofs'nch submergence and Contact and action of 'the battery amd resulting output is positively terriiinated.A

During deepened of rest, when time in.l

verted, the remaining solution adhering to the metal protects and thereby prolongs its li'e and retards oxidation of the metal'.

When tilted to a horizontal position as in Fig. 3, or vto varying intervening positions on an axial center transverse of the longitudinal center through the cylinder, thereV will be a. partial sdbrnerg'ence ofthe members,

wi'rtact space for thel of similar construction more or less, depending upon the degree of tilt. Any other suitable means adapted to effect tilting and a combination with one or plurality of batteries maybe substitut-ed.

it will also be obvious, that any suchk coinbinatioii may be arranged either in series or multiple. Y Y

VTo effect such tilting and operation, the battery unit itself may be provided with suitable trunnion bearings on opposite sides of its cylindrical surface, or one or more battery units may beinounted within a holding case 14 as in Fig. 7 and secured by any suitable means, as by bind-ingsciews 15.v

Case 1a is provided with terminal trunnionY bearings 16-16 mounted in supports,`

whereby the case and contained battery unit -or units may be rotated to the desired degree to effect the-results above noted.

y rilhe leads 17, 18, may be introduced through the hollow trunnions 16 and are connected with the proper binding posts 13 and 12 of the units, at any suitable locationsl thereon. In the case of a plural unit installation, the batteries are connected .in series as shown, or in multiple if preferred.'

i For the purpose of 'providing for the eX- haust of any produced gases or vapors, one side of the shell of case 2 is provided with an inserted plug 19 secured by threads 20 and having aninwardly extended hollow stem 21 terminating at a point corresponding eXactly or approximately to the middle center of the battery.

Hollow conduit 21 opens tothe interior at such point and then communicates by port 22 through plug 19 with an outer chamber 23 of the battery. Shouldhowever, there `be anypossibilityl of any electrolyte entering the tube 21, as by splashing or other disturbance `it will bepoclreted and collected in the remote chamber 23 from whence it may bereturned tothe battery byV proper tipping manipulation. A.

Y While the carbon casing or its top. may be provided with a -suitable binding post 13 for circuit connection through the battery to the central stein binding post 12, binding pcst13 may be arranged in any other suitable way;

Thus in Fig. 8 weV show a modified construe.`

tion, utilizing a thin copper or other metallic band 26 surrounding the main casing 2 and tightly secured by terminal flanges 27 and a bolt or stud 28. Such band is of advantage in reinforcing the casing, while at the same time providing a convenient circuit connection by binding post 13a secured by the stud or screw 28. o

The general construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description.

Vhile the battery is particularly designed and adapted for use tand application to radio receivingsets, it is not limited thereto,` but may be used with any current utilizing mechanisml within its limitations.

lt constitutes `in itself a curient producing and controlling apparatus, avoiding the necessity4 ofrheostats or other equivalent devices,VV and by avoiding contact between the active elements and theelectrolyte, when current is not needed, effects a large savingin local action and retarding deterioration, and a resultingv great increasel in the life of the battery.v

Itmay, of course, be made with any desiied number, area, or size ofthe casing and the ring-shaped plates, positive and negative, and constituting the anode and cathode members of the battery, dependent upon the desired capacity. I Y Y Such elements are capable ofchange and variation within the judgement Vand control of the builder or designer, and such or any other changes v.Within thev province of' the l in the scope of lthe vappended claims.

Vhat we claim is Y skilled mechanic. are understood to be with- 1. A reversible 'battery consisting of .a y

cylindrical casing having a middle Vcontinuously empty space and adapted to contain a` limited quantity of fluid electrolyte for a portion of its depthva closure Vfor one end of .the casing A have a series of concentrically yarranged inwardly extending cylindrical walls of positive polarity, an alternating series of cylindrical Vwalls of negative polarity .spaced between said walls, each series having a common connecting portion, means for fiiredly holding them in operative relation for partial or' complete immersion inorcomplete withdrawal from the electrolyte, a gas relief'conduit extending through the wall of the casinghavingan open ended inner terjminal located in said middle, continuously empty space, and an -outer supporting plug mounted in the casing wall and provided with a'iiuid arresting trap cavity-communieating with the gas conduit.

. 2.- A reversible battery consisting of a cylindrical closed bottom casing of carbon orl the like having a middle continuously empty space and adapted to contain a limited quantity of fluid electrolyte for aV portion of its depth,.a closing head of similar material secured at the other end of the casing having a series of concentrically` arrangcdinwardly extending integral cylindrical walls of positive polarity, a similar series of alternating cylindrical metallic walls ofnegative lpolarlili) lli) ity spaced between said walls and from the head, an inner cross connecting bar vfor the metallic walls and a holding and conducting stem therefor ixedly mounted in and extending centrally inward of the closing head for holding the metallic negative polarity walls in operative relation to the positive polarity walls ci the head during partial or complete immersion in or complete withdrawal from the electrolyte upon tipping the battery, and a gas relief conduit extending through the wall or the casing having an open ended inner terminal located in said middle continuously empty space.

3. A reversible battery consisting of a cylindrical closed bottom casing'of carbon or the like having a middle continuously empty space and adapted to contain a limited quantity oi Huid electrolyte for a portion of its depth, a closing head of similar material secured at the other end of the casing having a series of concentrically arranged inwardly extending integral cylindrical walls, a similar series of alternating cylindrical metallic walls spaced between said walls and from the head, an inner cross connecting bar for the metallic walls and a holding' and conducting stem therefor ixedly mounted in and extending centrally inward of the closing head tor holding the metallic walls in operative relation to the walls of the head during partial or complete immersion in or complete withdrawal from the electrolyte vupon tipping the battery, a gas relief conduit extending through the wall of the casing having an open ended inner terminal located in said middle continuously empty space, and an outer supporting plug mounted in the casing wall and provided with a Huid arresting trap cavity communicating with the gas conduit.

4. A reversible battery consisting 0f a cylindrical closed bottom casing of .carbon or the like having a middle continuously empty space and adapted to contain a limited quantity of fluid electrolyte for a portion of its depth, a closing head of similar material secured at the other end of the casing having a series of concentrically arranged inwardly extending integral cylindrical walls, a similar series of alternating cylindrical metallic walls spaced between said walls and from the head, an inner cross connecting bar for the metallic walls and a holding and conducting stem therefor fixedly mounted in and extending centrally inward of the closing head for holding themetallic walls in operative relation to the walls ot the head during partial or complete immersion lin or complete withdrawal from the electrolyte upon tipping the battery, a trap enclosing plug screwed into the side of the casing having an inner cavity and an outer vent opening, and a gas relief conduit communicating with said cavity and extending inwardly of the casing with its` terminal located in said empty space.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures. f

FREDERICK W. HOCHSTETTER. WILLIAM BROAD.

middle continuously 

